Belle Isle Aquarium
3 Inselruhe Ave, Detroit, MI, 48207
Detroit’s Belle Isle Aquarium, which opened in 1904, is the oldest public aquarium in the continental US, and among the most beautiful. Along with viewing the freshwater stingrays, reef fish, air-breathing fish, electric eels, and other aquatic animals, you can admire the building itself, which has retained many of its early-20th-century features, including a vaulted ceiling covered in green glass tiles.
The basics
The aquarium is located on Belle Isle, an island in the Detroit River that’s just on the US side of the US–Canada border. The island has several attractions, including a park, walking trails, beaches, fishing piers, and museums. Many people visit the aquarium independently while spending time on the island, though some classic car tours of the island are available, which might drive past the aquarium’s attractive Beaux Arts exterior.
Things to know before you go
Admission to the aquarium is free, but donations are encouraged.
If you have your own car, you’ll need a pass to drive onto Belle Isle. There are different fees for Michigan and out-of-state vehicles.
All of Belle Isle is wheelchair accessible.
How to get there
The aquarium is located on the western side of Belle Isle, which is connected to Detroit via the MacArthur Bridge. Parking is free, but if you’re driving here, make sure to purchase a pass for Belle Isle. There’s also a bus stop a short walk from the aquarium, on Inselruhe Avenue.
When to get there
The aquarium is only open from Friday to Sunday, so if you really want to check it out, make sure to visit Detroit over a weekend. It’s open from mid-morning until late afternoon. The aquarium is a year-round attraction and ideal in the winter, when temperatures are very cold in Detroit, and outdoor activities are more challenging.
Visit the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory
Right next to the Belle Isle Aquarium is the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, so it makes sense to visit both places while you’re on the island. The glass-roofed structure was designed by the same local architect as the aquarium—Albert Kahn—and opened on the same day in 1904. On the 13-acre (5-hectare) site, you’ll see exotic plants, a perennial garden, seasonal flowers, and a lily pond, and explore different climates within the conservatory itself.
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